In some parts of Africa, giraffes may still appear plentiful, yet across the continent their numbers are quietly declining. In northwest Namibia, a uniquely desert-adapted population of Angolan giraffe survives in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Protecting these giraffes requires sustained research, local engagement and long-term monitoring.
Working in partnership with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), Natural Selection supports efforts to better understand and safeguard this remarkable population. Based in Namibia and active across 12 African countries, GCF is the world’s leading authority on giraffe conservation and the only organisation dedicated exclusively to the conservation and management of giraffes in the wild.
Since 2018, Natural Selection’s partnership with GCF has connected long-term research in northwest Namibia with genetics and movement studies across Botswana. Genetic research using 126 giraffe samples collected across Botswana contributed to the formal recognition of four distinct giraffe species, reshaping how their conservation status is understood and managed. In northwest Namibia, more than 500 individual Angolan giraffe have now been identified, while DNA sampling and satellite tagging in Botswana are providing new insights into how giraffes move across increasingly fragmented landscapes.
In northwest Namibia, the desert-dwelling Angolan giraffe population has increased over recent decades through coordinated conservation by local communities, the Namibian government, private tourism operators and conservation organisations, including GCF. Despite this progress, environmental pressures remain. Continued research and monitoring help guide conservation planning and protect the connected habitats giraffes need to survive.
By supporting this work, Natural Selection helps ensure that desert-dwelling giraffes remain part of Namibia’s arid landscapes for generations to come.
